Ruth Webber (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Twelve months ago tomorrow, on Thursday, 11 August 2005, the Senate Economics Legislation Committee held its hearings into the Trade Practices Amendment (National Access Regime) Bill 2006, so it has taken 12 long months for us to finally debate this legislation and for Senator Stephens and me to have the opportunity to make our contributions. Initially, I want to place on record my thanks to the people who appeared before the committee and particularly to the committee chair, Senator Brandis. As has been alluded to, our hearing on this piece of legislation was probably an example of what Senate committees do well. Industry came to the committee and pointed out some concerns that they had with this piece of legislation. Some suggested improvements. There was no partisan view about how those improvements should be made, and there was good, old-fashioned, bipartisan discussion—in fact, tripartisan discussion, because Senator Murray from the Australia Democrats was there as well—and sensible public policy was recommended.